subject: Be wary of terrain when hiking [print this page] Be wary of terrain when hiking Be wary of terrain when hiking
When mountain climbing on top of flat terrain it's a good suggestion to keep a steady speed with repeated breaks over time. If the environment is slippery, steep or even trails at higher altitudes, you'll want to adjust how you're moving to relate to your circumstances. Let's look at a few different ones that you might come across and see how you would change your techniques accordingly.
Mountain terrain and high slopes
When you start climbing into the upper reaches, you're going to see the biggest change to your normal gait. Your body will strain much more to travel over the same amount of distance. It's going to take a lot more energy to do a fairly similar amount of work. At higher elevations, the amount of oxygen falls significantly and your body is going to have to work harder to get the mandatory amount of oxygen into your system.
Be sure to keep tabs on your heart rate to make sure that you're not pushing yourself too far. You should check with your physician to know where your heart rate should run when exercising. Having a heart rate monitor will also help you keep track of how hard your working. If you push yourself too hard, for too long at a high altitude, you could end up with High Altitude Syndrome or sometimes called the bends.
Through water like lakes and rivers
If you start mountain climbing up rivers or around lakes you're going to find a different set of issues. If you're moving through water, it takes a lot more force to move your feet through the water than it would through air. Plus getting your feet wet can head to other problems like blisters or even hypothermia. Be sure to equip yourself with the proper gear for these environments. Wear watertight shoes or boots and clothing that will dry rapidly once you are out of the water. If you're hauling a backpack, make sure it's waterproof to keep your gear dry as well.
If you find alternative paths around bodies of water, it's a good idea to take those instead. Crossing water can lead to all kinds of problems and issues. Slippery rocks, loose gravel and undercurrents are just a few of the issues that could lead you to injuries. So it's best to avert them even if it will cost you a little bit of time, going around the barrier.
So keep these things in thoughts as you get out and start mountain climbing this year. It's better to be safe and sound than sorry.
